PROJECT The Friendly Plant
The finished installation looks very clean and almost simplistic. However, a lot is going on underground to make the cantilever seating possible. We had to excavate extensively to install the underground steel substructure. We then filled the excavation with concrete to keep it weighted down and in one place.
These elements can be tricky to construct as we need to go above and beyond when fabricating the structure to cater to the exception. We don’ t want our clients to have a party and they end up with everyone sitting on a bench that ends up collapsing.
• We decided to use unpainted plaster as the main finish. We sealed the plaster to protect it and to enhance the different shades of grey that are created during plastering. This gives an almost cloudy, organic look that is not as‘ flat’ as paint.
• The fire pit uses kiln-fired bricks as a decorative element that contrasts with the smooth plaster finish in colour and texture. The bricks are also far more resistant to damage by the heat of the fire. A plastered finish would easily crack due to the expansion and contraction produced by a fire pit.
• We used concrete flagstone pavers from Creative Stone to pave the area between this area and the house. The large pavers create the illusion of space and in a tight space like this, it does make a big difference to the feel of the space.
• Opposite the bar, on the far end of the space, we installed a Keith Hamilton pizza oven. These are hand-built on-site and offer another dimension to outdoor entertaining. A pizza oven is not a one-trick pony. It can be used for baked pasta, bread, roasts, and, of course, pizza.
There is minimal planting in this garden because of the confined nature of the area together with the constructed elements that now populate it. The house is in an estate and privacy is a concern for our clients. The garden originally had some bamboo along the perimeter walls, and we added to this to create a better screening of the area.
There are a few small beds around the space where we used succulents and other hardy plants.
We also included a small, raised plant bed between the bar and the fire pit. This adds a little detail to the space.
The result is a garden space that is not only a beautiful addition to the house but also a practical space that caters to the lifestyle of our client – a better place to survive a lockdown. ■ www. sabuildingreview. co. za 147